The Real Story Behind Florida Georgia Line’s Breakup Revealed

Ex-Florida Georgia Line members Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley have finally discussed their disbandment.

In case you missed it, back in February 2022, the duo announced that they’d be “taking a break” after ten years. In addition to the hiatus, Tyler Hubbard launched a solo career, with Kelley releasing his second solo album, Tennessee Truth, just yesterday (10 May).

The duo got into the break-up by appearing on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast on Apple Music.

“For me, it was really unexpected,” Hubbard said (via People). “But BK came to me and said, ‘Man, I'm really feeling like I want to do a solo thing.’”

Remembering that Florida Georgia Line were “just getting out of our first deal,” Hubbard recalled being in a “sweet spot” after working for ten years to achieve their dreams. “I'm like, 'Bro, why don't we just ride this thing out for five more years, ten more years, and then we can do the solo thing?’” Hubbard said.

“But he definitely initiated the whole thing from the beginning, and it kinda — when I say it caught me off guard — it wasn't that we had never mentioned it before; it's just one of those things where I didn't think anything was going to happen then, you know what I mean?”

Refuting his former bandmate’s version of events, Kelley said, “We've had the conversation of having extra outlets since 2016, and then every two years after that. I had voiced that I obviously want to keep doing FGL, but for me, in my off time, when songwriters and creatives are alone, you find even more of yourself.

“And there's gonna be songs over the years that, just being a songwriter, I'm gonna write that aren't gonna fit the brand of FGL,” Kelly added. “It was important for me to continue to honour my craft, my artistry, my songwriting.”

The beginning of the end seemed to happen after Hubbard worked with Willie Nelson on the January 2021 track Undivided.

“To be honest with you, I was just a little caught off guard because I was told — and I was on board with this — that no solo music comes out before the FGL record,” Kelley stated. “So, I was all on board, and to get a call saying he's going to make a very visible statement and performance before the record and then go right to radio, you know, definitely a little caught off guard.”

After the 2020 election, Hubbard and his wife allegedly unfollowed Kelley from social media, leading some fans to assume the falling out regarded political differences.

As to whether Florida Georgia Line could get back together, Hubbard commented that it’s “really hard to say”. He added, “I'll never say never, but a lot of stuff would have to change, to be honest.

“A lot of dynamics would have to — there'd have to be some real long open conversations, and some healing would have to be done, for sure, before that would ever happen.”

Kelley said, “You never know, man. I mean, look at the Eagles. There’s lots of groups that have gone through way worse things than we have. At the height of everything, it never was really terrible, just seeing things different.”

Adding that “time will tell”, Kelly continued, “I’m really focused on what I’m doing now. I know he’s really focused — he just dropped an album — and I know he’s putting a lot of hard work into what he’s doing, just as I am. We’ll have to see.”

Kelley and Hubbard played their final show as Florida Georgia Line on 31 August 2022.